Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
It never ceases to amaze me how downright nasty people can be.
When 1,200 copies of the final Harry Potter book were sent out accidentally to customers who had pre-ordered, hundreds of pages were scanned and sent out en masse to Potter fans ahead of the much publicised released date.
It’s human nature to want to get your hands on something of interest to you as soon as possible, but in a rare show of worldwide solidarity Harry Potter fans the world over have waited patiently, book after book, to read each coming instalment on the due date … and not before.
It’s a testament to the popularity and respect of J K Rowling’s talent that they have done so, even going so far as to stay off-line long enough for the spoilers to have had little effect.
What is it that goes through a person’s mind to spoil another person’s pleasure? What benefit is there to be had by attempting to spoil the enjoyment of others? There’s no material gain to be had so why do it? It must take a seriously sick and emotionally-stunted mind to deliberately take away another’s fun just for the sake of it.
Many (mostly adult males) won’t understand the hype or why it’s so important for lovers of the book to find out what happens to their favourite characters for themselves, when the author is ready. The simplest way to explain it to them would be this: imagine you’d been looking forward to watching some championship match in your favourite sport but someone told you the final score before you’d had a chance to see the game for yourself.
Although I’ve always enjoyed the books and have seen all the films, I’m quite happy to wait a week or so for the crowds to die down before I go and watch the silver screen’s latest offering of Harry and his cronies.
Nor was it ever likely that I was going to stand in line in a bookshop at two in the morning just so I could be one of the first to get my hands on the latest and last in the Harry Potter series but I can kind of understand why some would take it to that level.
J K Rowling has told a story over the last 10 years or so that has captured the hearts and imaginations of old and young alike. It’s not often something like that happens and as a result fans have rewarded her with their full loyalty and refused to allow those who would try to spoil their enjoyment or rob the author of the price of a book.
